January 16, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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January 16, 2021 Sports OKC Thunder: Five takeaways from loss to San Antonio Spurs Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman ‘The Spurs outscored the paint. couldn't figure Gilgeous-Alex- draining 3-pointers. Bazley fora wide open 3-pointer ‘Thunder 26-2 in points off turn- The Thunder attempted 26 ander out. Walker picked up his Dort, who entered the night that could’ve cut San Antonio’s ‘The Spurs maintained a slim overs. 3-pointers, well down from its fourth foul midway through the shooting 43% from long dis- lead to three points, but Bazley lead throughout the fourth Attacking inside season average of 40.4. third quarter. tance, shot 3-of-6 from behind missed, quarter to hold off the Thunder ‘The Thunder has been 3-point SGA's two halves Gilgeous-Alexander had an the arc against the Spurs. Winless at home 112-102 Tuesday night at Ches- happy this season, ranking third Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was easy 12 points in the first half, Dort was a 30% 3-point ‘The Thunder just finished an apeake Energy Arena. in the NBA in 3-point attempts, primarily responsible for the but he was limited to eight improbable 4-1 road trip, but shooter in his rookie season. Here are five takeaways from but the Thunder attacked the Thunder's success around the points in the second half. He at- ‘Through 10 games as a sopho- Mark Daigneault’s club is still the game: Spurs at the rim Tuesday night. rim. tempted just 10 shots the whole more, Dort is leading the Thun- looking for its first win in Okla- Spurs make Thunder pay It started early. Bighteen of He shot 5-of-6 in the first game, second fewest among the der in 3-point shooting. homa City. The Spurs committed four the Thunder's 26 points in the half, with all of his makes com- ‘Thunder's starting five. Dort, still known more for The Thunder is now 0-4 at turnovers to the Thunder's 13, first quarter came in the paint. ing from inside the restricted Dort stays hot his defense, stole a Spurs in- home with losses to the Jazz, and San Antonio seemed to cash OKC finished the game with a area. The sample size is growing bounds pass with 36 seconds Magic, Pelicans and Spurs. The in on every OKC miscue. 50-36 advantage in points in the Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV larger, and Luguentz Dort keeps left. He kicked out to Darius ‘Thunder is 5-1 on the road. Former OU coach Stan Abel remembers Danny Hodge Ed Godfrey, The Oklahoman for a rematch. supporter was inspired by Dan-25 years. A decade ago, Hulme versity has done for its Heisman was just so low-key and nice” “This time he (Hodge) didn’t ny Hodge. set up a $50,000 wrestling en- Trophy winners. Several years Reporter Ed Godfrey looks for When Danny Hodge snapped mess around,” Abel said. Hodge Homer Hulme, 87, met Hodge dowment that has grown to ago, Hulme said he paid $2,000 stories that impact your life. Be his fingers, it sounded likea fire- ended the contest in the blink of while they were in college at OU. $70,000 so those trips could for a stone on the sidewalk near it news, outdoors, sports — you cracker popping. aneye. Hulme wasn’t a wrestler, didn’t continue even after he is gone. the Sam Noble Museum in Nor- name it, he wants to report it. That, according to former “Hill jumped up and started know anything about the sport, It's something that would have man to honor his friend. University of Oklahoma wres- walking around the room, shak- until he met Hodge on campus never happened had Hodge not Have a story idea? Contact him “He may be the greatest ath- tling coach Stan Abel, is just ing his arm, then said, ‘Let’s go and the two students became turned Hulme into a wrestling lete to go through OU,” Hulme at [email protected] or one of the many amazing things left-handed,” Abel said. friends. fan. said. “He was the most mar- on Twitter @EdGodfrey. Sup- about Hodge, his lifelong friend. ‘The next three contests with Hulme has been taking Chick- ‘A former mayor of Chicka- velous athlete I ever hoped to port his work and that of other The Jan. 3 feature in The the left arm ended just as quick- asha wrestling teams to eat and sha, Hulme wishes OU would meet. He was such a humble Oklahoman journalists by pur- Oklahoman about Hodge, who ly in Hodge's favor. watch Bedlam wrestling match- do more to recognize Hodge’s person. You would think you chasing a digital subscription died on Christmas Eve at age “He (Hill) had no chance 88, brought a tremendous out- whatsoever,” Abel said. “Scotty es in Norman for more than achievements such as the uni- were speaking to a preacher. He today. pouring from readers and fans, spent the next 30 minutes ex- including Abel. daiming how he could not be- Abel, now 83, first met Hodge as a freshman at OU in 1957. OU wrestling coach Port Rob- ertson asked Hodge, a two- lieve how strong Danny was, that nobody had ever been able to beat him like that. He just kept saying, ‘I can’t believe it.’ Berry Tramel: Isaac Likekele’s 3-point shot takes down Kansas basketball time NCAA champion, to work It was like (Donald) Trump get- with Abel. Hodge would win his ting beat for the presidency. He third straight NCAA title later just couldn’t accept the fact that that year and Abel would go on Hodge was that overwhelming” to win back-to-back crowns in ‘The time Hodge went into the Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman to take those easy shots and not But Likekele got the ball in the make the plays” 1959 and 1960. ring and a wrestler was stabbed likely to make them even if their corner, with about 12 seconds Likekele usually is the player During their college days to- A major rival of Danny in the middle of auxiliary plays. gether, their favorite hangoutHodge's during his early days of for‘TheOSU script was quite familiar basketball. Another blood runs brave. left on the shot clock, and OSU And with KU having taken hopes dwindling. Kansas dared was at the local Dairy Queen professional wrestling was An- huge lead lost. Another promis- A blocked shot. A steal. A nifty with their friends. Hodge was gelo Savoldi. a 70-67 lead on David McCor- Likekele to shoot. pass. Defending with feroc- kind of like Fonzie, Abel said, In a match between the two ing season about to topple over mack’s short jumper with 1:22 “It's almost like he rolled it ity. It’s up to others for a clutch the cool guy everyone wanted to wrestlers in Oklahoma City in the brink. left in the game, the Cowboys (around) in his head before 3-pointer. be around. Hodge, like Fonzie, the spring of 1960, Hodge’s Mike Boynton's Cowboys, desperately looked for a way to shooting,” said Cunningham. would stick up for Abel and his father jumped in the ring and who led TCU by eight points score. The ball went to Likekele Maybe Likekele was figuring he's“Icea big-time makes big-time shots; player,” Cunning- buddies if they ever got in a jam. stabbed Savoldi with a pocket- with 2 1/2 minutes left and in the corner. out the odds. Sure, his 3-point Years later, when Abel was knife. Savoldi required stitches West Virginia by 19 points in Likekele is fast becoming one shooting is shaky. But this sea~ ham said in defense. “The only coaching OU in the ‘70s, Hodge and Hodge's father, who was an the second half, only tolose both of my favorite Cowboys ever, son, Likekele had made five of thing is his confidence, When joined the team at Abel's house alcoholic, was arrested. games, were at it again. Kansas and that’s a short list over a long 11. And even the 29 percent of he's confident and is shooting it, one night after a Bedlam win “Danny never told his dad it had wiped out a 16-point deficit period. I watched the Cowboys previous seasons didn’t seem he’s knocked it down. and performed the feat he is fa- was fake,” Abel said. “Danny al- with 9:05 left in the game and from the “70s and ‘80s, and I've like a bad bet considering how “This year, he’s made strides mous for, crushing an apple in ways played the good guy and his hand. (Savoldi) played the bad guy. led OSU 70-67 at Gallagher-Iba covered the Cowboys from the the Cowboy offense had been in his jumpshot. He's letting it “They were in awe,” Abel said Danny would be walking away Arena. ‘90s on. Likekele is starting to faring for eight minutes against fly with confidence, and they've of his Sooner squad. and the guy would come up be- The Cowboys’ offense was gain on Chianti Roberts on my Kansas. been going down.” But one of Abel's favorite hind him and hit him with a gone. OSU had played superbly personal-favorite list. So Likekele let it fly. In it Likekele reminds me some of stories about Hodge happened chair, or he would pull things in the first half, but the foun- Likekele is like Chianti. A went. Tie game. the Thunder's Luguentz Dort. when former OU assistant foot- out of his shorts like brass tain was clogged. After Isaac great basketball player who does. You know the rest. Cunning- They're built alike, and their ball coach and former player knuckles and hit him, different Likekele’s 3-point play had given everything well except the one ham’s blocked shot of a Marcus weakness is the same. But Dort, Scott Hill challenged Hodge to things like that. the Cowboys a 65-49 lead, OSU thing people notice the most. Garrett drive, then Cunning- a defensive demon, is becoming an arm-wrestling match in a “His dad was so upset that wilted, Shoot. ham’s spectacular save and pass a better and better shooter. So is Norman restaurant. this guy was cheating that he Over eight minutes, the Cow- Likekele, a 6-foot-4 ox of a to Williams, who zipped the ball Likekele. After Hodge left OU and jumped up out of the stands and turned pro, he would often call ran into the ring and took out boys committed five turnovers, point guard, plays everything to the sprinting Rondel Walker He's now six of 12 on 3-point- Abel when he was in town. One his pocketknife and stabbed the missed seven shots, didn’t get from point guard to power for- for a 3-point play. night when Hodge returned to to the foul line and scored only ward. Guards anyone on the Basketball is a funny game. ers this season, and Likekele’s Norman, Abel took him to din- Savoldi later sued the promot- once, off their defense, when court. Likekele on Tuesday OSU had gone eight minutes overall field-goal percentage is ner ata local restaurant. er, Leroy McGuirk, who was rep- Brice Williams stole a pass and night spent some time defend- with two points, then scored six an astounding 57.9 percent, “We are sitting at the bar and resented at the time by a young broke away for an easy dunk. ing McCormack in the post, the points in 23 seconds. kooky good for a non-center. ordering some food in and walks Oklahoma City attorney Kent The Jayhawks smelled blood. way Roberts would defend Raef ‘The Cowboys survived three Boynton said Likekele’s devel- Scotty Hill who had just gotten Frates. ‘They smelled an unsure offense LaFrentz from time to time. Kansas 3-point shots in the fi- opment was slowed by his par- out of football practice,” Abel ‘After McGuirk was subpoe- that seemed reduced to only two I like everything about nal half minute, then Williams ticipation in summer 2019 with said. “As it turns out, Scotty was naed for a deposition, “Leroy a great arm wrestler. Scotty pro- called me and said, “They are and Williams, and thus went to demeanor. game, shotmakers, Cade Cunningham Likekele’s including his ‘The Cowboys have made a steal and dunked at the USA Basketball’s team under-19 claimed he could beat everybody not really serious about this are buzzer for the 75-70 final. team, when he and Cunningham on the football team.” they?” said Frates, who still is a triangle-and-two, an unsound nicknamed Likekele “Ice;” some A dizzying array of plays. But were teammates. It was a great Hill asked Hodge if he wanted practicing law in Oklahoma City. defense that works only against figure it a derivative of Isaac, Likekele’s shot made it possible. experience for Likekele, but it to arm wrestle. Hodge consent- Frates told him they were. top-heavy offenses. but I say it’s his attitude. Ex- Boynton admitted doubt had meant not as many days work- ed and Abel moved out of the McGuirk replied: “Let me talk OSU had become top-heavy. pressionless. Focused. I saw him crept in. The psychological scars ing solely on his shot. way. to Savoldi. If he carries through So the Jayhawks played man- smile the other day and nearly of those previous losses made “Lm not saying he skipped “I grabbed the top of their with this, he will never get an- to-man against Cunningham passed out. the Cowboys wonder if they a step, but he would have been hands and started the clock,” other wrestling match in this and Williams; KU’s other three Likekele’s shooting has been were cursed. Abel said. “They started their part ofthe country again.” defenders played a soft zone, less than stellar. He's 65.5 per- After OSU lost the lead, dur- able to do this before, if not for tugging and pushing. Danny A day later, McGuirk called designed mainly to guard the cent on foul shots for his three- ing a timeout, Boynton worked USA Basketball,” Boynton said. was just testing him out.” and told Frates that Savoldi was basket. year career and less than 30 per- on his team’s confidence. “His confidence comes from Hodge indulged Hill for dropping the case. ‘You can get easy shots against cent on 3-pointers. To Likekele’s “No,” he told them. “It’s not having worked on it in the sum- awhile before slamming Hill's How Hodge influences Chick- mer (2020). He's gotta be able to forearm down on the bar’s coun- asha wrestling still today a triangle-and-two. But that's credit, he’s basically avoided the going to happen. We're the bet- ter. Hill jumped up and asked Chickasha’s biggest wrestling the point. The defense is count- deep ball the longer his career ter team. We've been the better step up and shoot the ball with ing on opponents not wanting goes. team all night. We're going to go confidence, and I’m glad he did.” OU men’s basketball: Behind Harmon’s versatility, Sooners make it look easy Clay Horning, The Norman Tran- more than enough to smoke the advantage, 52-25, became an yup put them on top 45-24; and Gibson, after struggling at five turnovers. Eight of the script Horned Frogs 82-46 Tuesday 18-point advantage, 60-42. their first 30-point lead on a Baylor and Kansas, bounced Frogs’ 16 giveaways were OU night inside Lloyd Noble Center. Yet, beyond that, they were dunk from Victor Iwaukor with back with 11 points, three as- steals and though there’s no stat Even shorthanded, the Soon- ‘The Sooners (7-4, 3-3 Big 12) golden, even to the very end. 4:02 remaining. sists and three steals. for hurried shots thrown at the er men appear to have turned will walk into Bedlam Saturday When the last field goal went “That's the second half we OU didn’t shoot the lights the page on their season in the night in Stillwater quite possibly down — seldom used Keller needed,” Harmon said. “Against out, but was plenty solid, hitting basket to beat the shot clock, best possible way. playing their best basketball of Casey following his own miss in West Virginia ... we let them 46.4 percent (32 of 69) overall, TCU suffered a bunch of those, Three games ago, holding the season. the paint — OU’s bench erupt- crawl all the way back and they 44.4 percent (12 of 27) from be- too, back then-No. 9 West Virginia, “Everybody was connected ed. took the lead.” yond the 3-point arc and a per- RJ. Nembhard led the Frogs a corner appeared turned. How- together,” OU coach Lon Kruger Clearly, teammates were en- Not this time. fect 6 of 6 from the free-throw with 10 points. Mike Mills fin- ever, one game later, at second- said. “[We were] aggressive in a joying watching teammates Harmon finished with 22 li ine. ranked Baylor, the Sooners went Jot of ways. A lot of guys making have success. points, six rebounds and four TCU’s shooting struggles — ished with eight points and nine backward, their feet heavy, their plays for each other.” The Horned Frogs (9-5, 2-4 assists. Austin Reaves finished 34.6 percent (18 of 52) over- rebounds. chances non-existent. The Sooners weren't very Big 12) were in the game early with 14 points and six assists. all; 21.1 percent (4 of 19) from “This was a game we needed,” Yet, facing TCU without the good at the very start, when it and then suddenly not in the Harmon was particularly 3-point land — had plenty to do Harmon said. services of Brady Manek and took 3:17 for their first basket game at all. busy. with OU’s defense. ‘They made it look easy. Jalen Hill for a second straight to fall, a 3-pointer from Umoja The Sooners grabbed their “{ thought he handled every “We've had trouble getting to Clay Horning game, Oklahoma was terrific for Gibson, who began the game on first 10-point lead with 9:47 role tonight in a great way,” 3-point shooters ... we haven't 405 366-3526 a second straight game. the bench. before the half on a 3-pointer said Kruger. “He played the done a good job,” Kruger said. Terrific wasn’t quite enough Nor were they great for a few from De’Vion Harmon; their wing, power forward, played the “The last two games, we've done Follow me @clayhorning to upset No. 6 Kansas three days minutes in the second half, when first 20-point lead with 15:58 point. Made great plays from all amuch better job” cfhorning@normantran- earlier in Lawrence, but it was what had become a 27-point remaining when a Harmon la- three positions all night long,” The Sooners committed just script.com